Slack adjuster



May 9, 1933- wl H. BRYANT 1,908,315

SLACK ADJUSTER May 9, 1933. f w H BRYANT 1,908,315

SLACK ADJUSTER Filed July 13, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E? n Q 2.9 s

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w. H. BRYANT SLACK ADJUSTER May 9, 1933.

Filed July 13, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 N.\ maj S) me/who@ www@ Patented May 9V, 19933 Unire STATES PATiiN'iil Vricey WILLIAM Hf BRYANT, or NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, AssIGNoR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE As'srGNiirnNTs'To BRYANT SELF-ADJUSTING BRAKES, ING., A, CORPO- RATION 0F ARKANSAS f SLACK ADJUSTER Application filed July 13,

This invention aims to provide novel means whereby the slack can be taken' out of a brake rod, on an automobile, a railroad car, or any other vehicle requiring a brake. Y

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the util# ity of devices of that type to which the invention appertains. i Y Vf ith the above and other objects in View, c which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combina` tionand arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figurel shows in elevation, a device constructed' in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a yvertical section taken through the casing; Y Figure 3 isa sectional View taken through the casing, most parts appearing in elevation;

Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line 5*-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a side elevation showing amodiiication;

Figure 7 is a transverse section of the modification;

Figure 8 is a 'fragmental longitudinal section of the modification.l

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a brake actuating means or rod com-` prising two elements 46 and 16. The element 46 has fixed thereto a casing 1 whichV in effect forms a part of the element. IVithin the casing 1 is fixed a first partition 2. A second partition 3 is located in the casing 1, below* the first partition 2. rThe partitions 2 and 3 form a guideway 4 in the casing l. There are holes 5 in the ends of the casing 1, in alignment with the guideway 4. Intermediate its ends, the second partition 3 has an opening 6. The first partition 2 is provided intermediate its, ends with an opening 7 There are 1931. Serial No. 550,557.

notches 8 in the sidesof the first partition 2. y

A back stop pawl 9 designed to normallyl hold the elements 46 and 16 in fixed relation to each other is located in the opening 7 of the first partition 2 of the element 46. The back stop pawl 9 is mounted to swing, intermediate 4- its ends, on a fulcrum pin 10, mounted in the' first partition 2, and extended across the opening 7. n has `a depending tooth 11. `Above the tooth 11, the back stop pawl 9 has an inclined'pro`V At one end, the'back stop pawl v9 jection 12. A spring 14 ismounted on the first partition 2 and engages with the back stop pawl 9, to swing the right handend of the back stop pawl 9 downwardly, in Figure bar or element`16 which is mounted to slidey in the guideway 4 and in the openings 5. `On 1 I itslower` edge, the bar 16 has a second rack,

whichis designated by the numeral 17. A transverse shaft 18 is mounted to rock in the casing 1 and is provided intermediate its ends Vwith a crank 19, adapted to bear downwardly -on the left hand end of the back stop pawl 9. As shown in `solid lines in'Figure 1 and by dotted lines in Figure 2, the shaft 18 has a handle 20, located outside of the casing 1. A

dog 21 is pivotally mounted at 22 on the cassol ing 1,l and is adapted to cooperate with the handle 2O of the shaft 18, in a manner which willl be explained hereinafter. A stop 23 `on he casing 1 limits the upward movement of the dog 21. p

The `numeral 24 designates an` H-shaped lever including side arms 25 connected above the partition2 by a rounded cross bar 26, the Vside arms of the lever being received inthe notches 8 of the first partition 2, and the lever the casing 1 and provided, outside of the being-fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the casing, with ahead 29. The slide 28 has a *depending finger 30, locatedwithin" the cas ing 1, and adapted to cooperate with the projection-12 on the back stop pawl 9. The slide 28 is provided with a reduced inner end 3.1 pivoted at 31 tothe upper ends of the side arms of the lever 24. A plunger 33 is mounted to reciprocate in a hole 34 in a post 35 fixed on the partition 2. The inner end oli the plunger 33 is received in a recess 36 in the part 32 of the slide 28. The plunger 33 has a head 37. A compression spring 38 surrounds the plunger 33. One end ofthe compression spring 38 abuts against the head 37, and the other end of the compression spring abuts against the post 35. The spring 38 tends to swing the lever 24, to the right Figure 2,

A feed` or second pawl 39 is disposed below the rack bar 16, and operates in the openy ing-6 of the lower partition 3. By means of vis mounted on the arms 25 of the lever 24, at

Inoiimted to rock in the casing 1.

p on any accessible part ol' the vehicle.

a pivot pin 40.one end oit the feed pawl 39 the lower end of the lever. Springs 41 are engaged with the side arms 25 of the lever 24 and are extended around the pivot pm 40.

f The springs 41 tend to swing the feed pawl 39 upwardly, and keep it in engagement with the lower rack 17 on the bar 16. The feed pawl 39 has an elongated, depending yoke 42, in which works a crank 43 on a shaft 44 `The shaft 44 hasta handle 45 external to the casing' 1.`

It is to be understood that the device torming the subject matter ol this application is adapted to be used on railway vehicles, on

g-automobiles, or on anything else which requires a means for operating a brake. By way of illustration, to avoid prolixity in the drawings, it will be presupposed that the structure is used on an automobile, although itis not confined to that method of employment.

,The element or stem 46 has sliding movement in a depending bracket 47 mounted on the trame 48 of an automobile. The brake jr pedal is shown at 49 and is tulcrumed at 50,

the brake pedal having an arm 51 which is pivoted at 52 to the forward end of the stem 46.V rllhe rear end of the bar 16 is pivot-ed at 54 to a bell crank lever 53, tulcrumed at 55 The lever 53 has its opposite end connected to a brake band 56 adapted to cooperate with a drum 57 on the vehicle wheel (not shown), the anchored end of the brake band 56 bein designated by the numeral 58.

When a new brake band 56 is mounted in place, the slide 28 is shoved to the left in Figure 2, so that the nger 30 can clear the projection 12 on thde back stop pawl 9. The shaft 18 then is rotated by means of the handle 20, to cause the crank 19 to press downwardly on the back stop pawl 9, and raise the tooth 11 of the back stop pawl out of engagement Ywith the rack 15 on the element or-bar 16. After the handle 20 has been manipulated, as

and for the purpose stated, the dog. 21 is swung downwardly and engaged with the handle 20, to keep the back stop pawl 9 tilted, and to keep the tooth 11 of the back stop pawl out of engagement with the rack 15 on the bar 16. The operator rotates the shaft 44 by means of the handle 45, and the crank 43, cooperating with the yoke 42 onthe feed pawl 39, n

and with the feed pawl 39 in engagement with Y the rack 17 on the bar 16. VAs the brake band 56 wears, the hea-d 29 on the slide 28 comes into contact with the bracket or abutment 47, and

the lever 24 is tilted on its fulcrum 27, the bar 16 being moved to the right in Figures 2 and 3, by the action of the feed pawl 39 on the rack 17 `of the bar 16. Upon release of the brakes, the spring 38, acting on the plunger 33,

carries the slide 28 to the right, so that the inger 30 on the slide engages with the projection 12 von the back stop pawl 9 and keeps the tooth 11 ot the back stop pawl in engagement with the. rack 15 on the bar 16.

ln Figures 6, 7 and 8, there is shown a brake actuating means or rod comprising two elements 106.and A111. The element 106 has fixed thereto a frame, 1n the torni of a box-like cas` ing 101 provided on its sides with internal ribs 102, forming a guidewayv 104. There are holes 105 in the ends of the casing` 101. The element 106 is liXed'in the bottom of the casing 101y so-that the casing forms part of the element 106. The element 106 corresponds to the element 46 of the Figure 1 form of the invention. In the element 106 there'is a re-` cess 107. A baclrstop pawl 108 designed to normally hold the elements 106 and 111 in fixed relation to each other is located in the recess 107. The back stop pawl 108 is pivvotally mounted, intermediate its ends, ona fulcrum pin 109 carried by the element, 106. The back stop pawl 10,8 is so mounted on the 'ulcrum pin 109, that the weight of its right- Vhand portion (Figure 6) will tend to hold its Vstop pawl 108, in a recess 116 formed in the bottom ot the casing 101. vThe shaiit 114 is manipulated by means of an external handle y There are` notches 4118 in oppositesides of the element or stem r106. Into the'se notches 118 extends the loWer ends of the side arms 120 v of an `I -flshapedI lever 119 Aincluding a cross bar 121 lconnecting the side arms 120. A feedpaivl 122 is pivotally mounted interme-` diate its ends on the cross bar 121. A spring 123 is engaged With'thefeed pavvl`122and Withfthe cross bar 121, and tends to maintain one end of the feed pawl'in engagement with the rack' 112, as shown 'inFigure 61 A stop 124 extends across the casing101. v One end'. of the feed pavvl 122 is adapted to engage the stop 124, and Will therebyfbelocked in engagiiig position with theupper raek 112.

A transverse`shaft125 is mounted toroc'k in the casingOl. The shaft125 has a crank 126 adapted to engagelonelend of the feed pawl 122, to lift the opposite end of the feed pawl out of engagement With'thefrack 112,

The shaft 125 is manipulated external handle 127.

A member or slide 128 ismounted to reciprocate in one end of the casing 101, on top of the stop 124. The slide 128 has an external head 129, corresponding'to the head29. The slide'128 has an inner reduced end 130 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends between the upper endsof the side arms 120 of the H-shap-ed lever 119. The f ,Slide` bears `against the post or guide134, and the y opposite end of the spring bears againstfthe abuti'nent135.

The operation of the structure shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 Will be understood readily from What has `been stated hereinbefore in connection With 'the other form. It may be noted, however, that in the form shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, Whenthe brakes are applied, if the brake bands are Worn, when the head 129 comes into contact With the bracket or abutment 47 illustrated in Figure 1,'the movement ofthe plunger 128 Will stop While the casing 101 (fixed tothe element 10,6) and the element 111 Willeontinue their movement'to the left (Figure'6). They stop?` ping of the movement of the plunger 1 28 Will swing the upper end at the lil-shaped lever 119 to the right upon its lower pivot, carrying the pawl 122 tothe right to engage in another notch on the element 111.` When the brakes are released, the spring 136 willV hold the head 129 of the plunger 1 28in contact with the abutment 47, While element 106 including casing 101 will return to the right. The action of yspring 136 in holding the plunger 128`to` the left vvill cause the pa'Wl 122 to hold the element 111 stationary Auntilthe the feed Y head 129 of plunger y128v is movedout ,of contact with theabutment 47 by the continuedv movementof the brake rod to the right. The

adjustment' of elementnlll With respect toy element 106 Will therefore be effected by the `acti'oi`i of the spring 136 upon the releaseof the brakes.`

Havingthus described the invention, What is claimed iszf- 1. In `a slackK adjuster for brakes, a frame, a bar slidable inthe frame and havingfirst andsecond racks, a backstop pawl pivoted s to the frame and engaging the firstrack, a

slidefor engagement with an abutment, the 1 slidebeing mounted to reciprocate` inthe paivlpivoted to the opposite end of the lever and cooperating with the second rack, and spring means for yoperating the lever,` to re-` tractthe feed -pavvl and to move said means', finto engagement with the back stop pavvl.l

frame,'the slide having means for engaging Athe back s toppawl to hold the back stop paivl engaged With the first rack, a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends ontlie frame and pivoted at one end to the slide, a feed 2. A device lof the classdescribed, con! fstriicted as set forth in claimil, ineombinaf tionwith means under the control of an op- Aerator forjinoving the feed paWl clear of the second rack, and for moving the back stop paWl clear of ,the first rack Whenthe slide is moved out of engagement with the` back stoppawl.

3. In aslack adjusterfor brakes, a` frame,

a bar slidable in the frame and Ahaving first and second racks, a back stop pavvl pivoted to the k,frame and engaging thel first rack, a

slide forl engagement vvith'an abutment,.theu

slide being `mounted in the frame, a'lever fulcrumed on Athe frame and :pivotedto the i slide, a vfeed pawl pivotedto' the lever and eooperating with the second rack, a stop earl ried by the frame, andspring meansy formoving `the slide and Vtilting the lever, to cause,

Ithe feed {paWl to advance the bar, and to cause paWl `to Comervinto` abutment` vvith the stop. A

4', Inaslaok adjusterfor brakes, a vehicle having a fixed abutment, a frame movable With respeet to"y the `v eliiclea bar Vvslidablein the frame and having "a rack mechanism, a

back stop "pawl pivoted tothe frame and,

engaging therack mechanism, a leverful- 'd crume'd on the frame, a slide mounted to reciprocate in theframe with respect `to the bar,

means for pivoting the. slide.v at a fixed point directly to the lever, theslidebeing engagel,

` able ivith 'the abutment, to move the slide in one direction, spring means for moving the,`

slide in an opposite direction, and a feed pawl pivoted directly tothe lever, independently of the frame, andengaging vthe rack mecha-` nism of the bar.

5." .The combination with a, vehicle having an abutment thereon and includingbrake actuating means, of a brake slack adjuster comprising two elements included in thev brake 'actuating means, means carried by one of the elements and normally engaging the other element vto hold the two elements in fixed relation, a slidable member carried by one of the elements, means operatively connected to the slidable member and engaging the other element, engagement of the abutment with the slidable member upon actuating movement or" the brakeactuating means causing the `slidable Vmember to be held against movement while movement of both of the elements continues, and means to move the slidable member, the engaging means opieratively connected thereto and the element engaged by the latter with. respect to the Vfirst named engaging means when the brake actuating means is released to move in the op- 20` i posite direction.

6. The combination with a vehicle. having an abutment thereon and including brake actuating means, of a brake slack adjuster com.- prising two elem-ents included in the brake actuating means, one of the elements being ratcheted and the other element carrying a pawl normally engaging the ratcheted element to hold the two elements in iixed relation, a lever fulcrumed on the pawl carrying element, a member slidably mounted on the pawl carrying element, the lever and member being pivotally connected, a pawl carried by the lever and engaging the ratcheted element, the engagement of the abutment with the slida-ble member when th-e brake actuating means is moved to brake actuating position causing the slidable member, lever and the pawl carried thereby to be held against movement and means to return vsaid last-mentioned member, lever and pawl to normal positionL when the brake actuatingA means is released.

7. The combination with a vehicle having an abutment thereon and including brake actuating means, of a brake slack adjuster comprising two elements included in the brake actuating means, one of the elements beingratcheted and the other element carrying a pawl engaging the ratcheted element to normally hold the two elements in fixed relation, a slidable member carried Vby the pawl carrying element, means operatively connected to the slidable member and engaging the ratcheted element, engagement of the abutment with the slidabl-e member upon actuating movement of the brake actuating means causing the slidable member to be held against movement while movement of both of the elements continues, and means to move the slidable member, the engaging means operatively connected thereto and the ratche-ted clement with respect to the pawl vvhenthe brake actuating means is released to move in the opposite direction. Q

8. The combination with a vehicle having to prevent relativemovement of the two ele-k ments, engagement of thev abutment with the slidable member upon actuating movementl of the brake actuating means causing movement of the slidable member to be stopped, ,whereby the holding means will be released and the means operatively connected to the slidable member will move the element engaged by the last named means with respect to the other element.

9. The' combination with a vehicle having an abutment thereon vand including brake actuating means, of a brake slackadjuster comprising two elementsr included in the brake actuating means, one of the elements being ratcheted and the other element carrying a pawl normally engaging the ratcheted element tohold the tvvo` elements in fixed relation, a` member engagingy the ratcheted element and mounted for reciprocable movement with respect to the pawl carrying'element, engagement of the abutment with the reciprocably mounted member upon actuating movement of the brake actuating means causing the reciprocable member to be held against movement While movement of both of the elements continues, and means to `move the reciprocably mounted member and the ratcheted element with respect to the pawl wh-en the brakeactuating means is released to move in the ,opposite direction.

10.l The combination with a vehicle having an abutment thereon and including brake actuating means, of a brake slack adjuster comprising two elements included in the brake actuating means, one. of the elements being ratcheted and the other element carrying al pawl normally engaging the ratcheted element to hold the two elements in fixed rela'- tion, a member mounted on the pawl carry-l ing element for relative movement with reice spect thereto and engaging .the ratcheted Y actuating means, one of the elements being ratcheted and the other element carrying a pawl normally engaging the ratcheted element to hold the two elements in fixed relation, a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the pawl carrying element, a reciprocable member mounted on the pawl carrying element, the lever and reciprocable member being pivotally connected, a second pawl carried by the opposite end of the lever and engaging with the ratcheted element, means carried by the reciprocable member to hold the irst pawl in locking position, engagement of the abutment with the reciprocable member causing the holding means to be released and the second pawl to move the ratcheted element with respect to the other element and means to move the reciprocable member, lever and second pawl to normal position.

12. The combination with a vehicle having an abutment thereon and including brake ac-l tuating means, of a brake .slack adjusted comprising two elements included in the brake actuating means, means carried by one of the elements and normally engaging the other element to hold the two elements in iiXed relation, a slidable member carried by one of the elements, means operatively connected to the slidable member and normally locked in engagement with the other element, engagement of the abutment with the slidable member upon actuating movement of the brake actuating means causing the slidable member to be held against movement while movement of both of the elements continues, and means to move the slidable member, the engaging means operatively connected thereto and the element engaged by the latter with respect to the first named engaging means when the brake actuating means is released to move in the opposite direction.

13. The combination with a vehicle having an abutment thereon and including brake actuating means, of a brake .slack adjuster comprising two elements included in the brake actuating means, one of the elements being ratcheted and the other element carrying a pawl engaging the ratcheted element to normally hold the two elements in iXed relation, a slidable member carried by the pawl carrying element, means operatively connected to the slidable member and engaging the ratcheted element, locking means fixed to the pawl carrying element to normally hold the last named means in engagement with the ratcheted element, engagement of the abutment with the slidable member upon actuating movement of the brake actuating means causing the slidable member to be held against movement while movement of both of the elements continues and the locking means is moved out 'of contact with the engaging means, and means to move the slidable member, the engaging means operatively connected thereto and the ratcheted element with respect to the pawl when the brake actuating means is released to move in the opposite direction.

14. The combination with a vehicle having an abutment thereon including brake actuating means, of a brake slack adjuster comprising two elements included in the brake actuating means, one of the lelements being ratcheted and the other element carrying a pawl normally engaging. the ratcheted element to hold the two elements in fixed relation, a member mounted on the pawl carrying element for relative movement withV respect thereto and engaging the ratcheted element, locking means to normally hold the member in engagement with the ratcheted element, engagement of the abutment with the member upon actuating movement of the brake actuating means causing the member to be held against movement while movement of both of the elements continues and the locking means is move-d out of contact with the member, and means to move thel member and the element engaged thereby with respect to the pawl when the brake actuating means is released to move in the opposite direction.

15. The combination of a vehicle having an abutment thereon and including brake actuating means, of a brake slack adjuster comprising two elements included in the brake actuating means, means carried by one oi the elements and normally engaging the other element to hold the two elements in fixed relation, a member mounted on one of the element-s for relative movement with respect thereto and engaging the other element, engagement of the abutment with the member upon actuating movement of the brake actuating means causing the member to be held against movement, while movement of both of the elements continues and means to move the member and the element engaged by the latter with respect to thel i'irst named engaging means when the brake yactuating means is released to move in the opposite direction.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing Y WILLIAM H. BRYANT. 

